Does not being unequally yoked mean I should not have non-Christian friends?

from the old testament

• Believers who befriend unbelievers can have a good impact on them by showing them the love of God. The first part of Proverbs 12:26 says, "One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor." But that Proverb ends with a warning of the negative impact an ungodly person can have: "but the way of the wicked leads them astray" (Proverbs 12:26).
• Many Proverbs indicate that friends can reinforce good habits —or influence someone to bad behavior (Proverbs 13:20, 22:24-25, 27:17).

from the new testament

• In his second letter to believers in Corinth, Paul writes, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). Believers may develop friendships with unbelievers, but their worldviews drastically differ and may cause conflict. Believers must never compromise on truth.
• Jesus set an example by eating and drinking with unbelievers (Luke 7:34). But those who associated with Him were also seeking the truth, and Jesus, of course, would never compromise His message.
• Christians should be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-15) but should be careful of cultivating friendships with those who engage in ungodly pursuits. Quoting a saying of the time, Paul warned, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals'" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
• The writer of Hebrews speaks of how believers should "stir up one another to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). Christians can and should do this even with unbelieving friends.

implications for today

If everyone were jumping off a cliff, would you jump off, too?

If you heard that as a kid, you were probably trying to get your parents to agree to let you do something that all your friends were doing, something that wasn't in your best interests.

Sometimes, we still act like kids but in adult bodies. And we may still have friends that want us to do what we shouldn't. Maybe it's as simple as going to a see a movie that has suggestive scenes, gossiping about other people you know, or spending money frivolously. Believers who have unbelievers as friends should be leading them up rather than following them down.

That same principle is really what Scripture is getting at when it warns about influence: not isolation but direction. Every voice you allow into your life shapes your heart, mind, and habits, almost without you noticing it. That’s why wisdom is necessary. It's not about avoiding people but about recognizing patterns: who tends to pull you closer to Christ and who consistently pulls you away from Him? How much influence are you allowing those who aren't running the race of faith to have in your life?

Real friendship doesn’t just go along with everything; it cares enough to resist what’s harmful, even when it’s uncomfortable. In that sense, being a faithful friend sometimes means being the one person willing to say, “I’m not following that—but I’m still here with and for you.”